EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE OF S*-WAVE*

During development of theoretical methods to compute synthetic seismograms, a new type of wave called S*-wave was discovered by Hron and Mikhailenko. This wave propagates with the shear-wave velocity and can be interpreted as a non-geometrical wave arrival with large amplitudes strongly depending on the depth of a pure P-point source. In this first experimental verification of the existence of S*-waves by means of two-dimensional model-seismics it is demonstrated that: 1. the S*-wave exists and depends on the source distance from the free surface; 2. the S*-wave is generated as an ordinary shear wave on the free surface at the point located directly above the P-source, as illustrated in the synthetic seismograms. The measured seismograms agree remarkably well with the computed ones.     

WAVEFRONT DIVERGENCE,MULTIPLES, AND CONVERTED WAVES IN SYNTHETIC SEISMOGRAMS*

Synthetic seismograms can be very useful in aiding understanding of wave propagation through models of real media, verification of geologic models derived from interpretation of field seismic data, and understanding the nature and complexity of wave phenomena. If meaningful results are to be obtained from synthetic seismograms, the method of their computation must, in general, include three-dimensional geometrical spreading of wavefronts associated with highly concentrated (i.e., point) sources. The method should also adequately represent the seismic response of solid-layered media by including enough primaries, multiples, and converted phases to accurately approximate the total wavefield. In addition to these features, it is also very helpful, although not always essential, if the method of seismogram computation provides for explicit identification of wave type and ray path for each arrival. Various seismograms, computed via asymptotic ray theory and an automatic ray generation scheme, are presented for a highly simplified North Sea velocity structure. This is done to illustrate the importance of the above features and to demonstrate the inadequacy of the plane-wave synthesis method of seismogram computation for point sources and the limitations of acoustic models of solid-layered media.     

多震相菲涅耳体射线走时同时反演成像

高频假设下的地震射线理论以及相应的地震成像理论表明,在射线稀疏条件下,不可能得到较高分辨率的构造成像;而有限频射线理论更符合实际地震的传播规律,即地震波的走时不仅与中心射线(传统的几何射线)上的速度分布有关,而且与中心射线附近一定范围(称其为第一菲涅耳体)内的速度异常分布有关.鉴于此,本文提出了计算多震相地震波菲涅耳体有限频射线的方法,并定义了走时敏感核函数,同时给出了利用多震相菲涅耳体有限频射线进行速度模型和反射界面同时反演成像的公式.利用多震相走时资料,使用传统射线层析成像方法与有限频射线层析成像方法进行了速度和界面的同时反演成像.结果表明,当射线密度较小时,无论是对速度模型的重建还是对反射界面几何形状的更新,有限频射线层析成像方法均优于传统射线层析成像方法, 而变频有限频射线层析成像则是实际地震层析成像的首选反演算法.      

Simultaneous inversion of velocity structures and hypocentral locations: Application to the Friuli seismic area NE Italy

A layeredP- andS-wave velocity model is obtained for the Friuli seismic area using the arrival time data ofP- andS-waves from local earthquakes. A damped least-squares method is applied in the inversion.The data used are 994P-wave arrival times for 177 events which have epicenters in the region covered by the Friuli seismic network operated by Osservatorio Geofisico sperimentale (OGS) di Trieste, which are jointly inverted for the earthquake hypocenters andP-wave velocity model. TheS-wave velocity model is estimated on the basis of 978S-wave arrival times and the hypocenters obtained from theP-wave arrival time inversion. We also applied an approach thatP- andS-wave arrival time data are jointly used in the inversion (Roecker, 1982). The results show thatS-wave velocity structures obtained from the two methods are quite consistent, butP-wave velocity structures have obvious differences. This is apparent becauseP-waves are more sensitive to the hypocentral location thanS-waves, and the reading errors ofS-wave arrival times, which are much larger than those ofP-waves, bring large location errors in the joint inversion ofP- andS-wave arrival time. The synthetic data tests indicated that when the reading errors ofS-wave arrivals are larger than four times that ofP-wave arrivals, the method proposed in this paper seems more valid thanP- andS-wave data joint inversion. Most of the relocated events occurred in the depth range between 7 and 11 km, just above the biggest jump in velocity. This jump might be related to the detachment line hypothesized byCarulli et al. (1982). From the invertedP- andS-wave velocities, we obtain an average value 1.82 forV _p /V _s in the first 16 km depth.     

射线法模拟分析井间地震观测的波场特征

按照井间地震的观测系统,用改进的突变点加插值射线追踪方法,追踪每炮每道的射线路径,计算几种主要类型的波沿射线路径的波至时间和射线振幅,制作井间地震多炮多道水平分量和垂直分量的合成记录.并将合成记录选排为井间共炮点道集、共接收点道集、共偏移距道集和共中心深度点道集,系统地分析了不同道集内几种主要类型的地震波的传播特征.对野外观测的实际井间地震记录进行了模拟,从复杂的井间地震记录中,识别出井间地震实际观测到的不同类型的波场,为随后的井间地震资料处理和应用提供了依据.     

青藏高原东部及其边缘地区的地壳上地幔三维速度结构

利用在青藏高原东部及其邻近地区记录到的１万余条近震到时资料,反演该地区的地壳上地幔三维速度结构。采用网格点模型描述三维速度结构,模型维数为２２２２６,网格点间距水平向为１００ｋｍ,垂直向为２０ｋｍ,网格点之间的速度值通过线性插值给出。采用改进了的快速三维射线追踪方法,确定三维非均匀介质中的地震射线路径和理论走时。反演结果显示,青藏高原南部的上地壳中（３０ｋｍ左右的深度）存在一低速区,这和面波反演的结果一致,羌塘块体下地壳有明显的低速异常带,青藏公路沿线的垂直速度剖面显示出岩石层受挤压增厚的构造特征。     

Point source radiation in inhomogeneous anisotropic structures

The ray formulae for the radiation from point sources in unbounded inhomogeneous isotropic as well as anisotropic media consist of two factors. The first one depends fully on the type and orientation of the source and on the parameters of the medium at the source. We call this factor the directivity function. The second factor depends on the parameters of the medium surrounding the source and this factor is the well-known geometrical spreading. The displacement vector and the radiation pattern defined as a modulus of the amplitude of the displacement vector measured on a unit sphere around the source are both proportional to the ratio of the directivity function and the geometrical spreading.For several reasons it is desirable to separate the two mentioned factors. For example, there are methods in exploration seismics, which separate the effects of the geometrical spreading from the observed wave field (so-called true amplitude concept) and thus require the proposed separation. The separation also has an important impact on computer time savings in modeling seismic wave fields generated by point sources by the ray method. For a given position in a given model, it is sufficient to calculate the geometrical spreading only once. A multitude of various types of point sources with a different orientation can then be calculated at negligible additional cost.In numerical examples we show the effects of anisotropy on the geometrical spreading, the directivity and the radiation pattern. Ray synthetic seismograms due to a point source positioned in an anisotropic medium are also presented and compared with seismograms for an isotropic medium.     

Efficient and accurate computation of seismic traveltimes and amplitudes

We describe two practicable approaches for an efficient computation of seismic traveltimes and amplitudes. The first approach is based on a combined finite‐difference solution of the eikonal equation and the transport equation (the ‘FD approach’). These equations are formulated as hyperbolic conservation laws; the eikonal equation is solved numerically by a third‐order ENO–Godunov scheme for the traveltimes whereas the transport equation is solved by a first‐order upwind scheme for the amplitudes. The schemes are implemented in 2D using polar coordinates. The results are first‐arrival traveltimes and the corresponding amplitudes. The second approach uses ray tracing (the ‘ray approach’) and employs a wavefront construction (WFC) method to calculate the traveltimes. Geometrical spreading factors are then computed from these traveltimes via the ray propagator without the need for dynamic ray tracing or numerical differentiation. With this procedure it is also possible to obtain multivalued traveltimes and the corresponding geometrical spreading factors. Both methods are compared using the Marmousi model. The results show that the FD eikonal traveltimes are highly accurate and perfectly match the WFC traveltimes. The resulting FD amplitudes are smooth and consistent with the geometrical spreading factors obtained from the ray approach. Hence, both approaches can be used for fast and reliable computation of seismic first‐arrival traveltimes and amplitudes in complex models. In addition, the capabilities of the ray approach for computing traveltimes and spreading factors of later arrivals are demonstrated with the help of the Shell benchmark model.     

EVANESCENT EFFECTS IN ACOUSTICAL WAVE PROPAGATION*

The propagation of transient acoustic pressure waves in a layer enclosed between two, not necessarily identical, half-spaces is considered. The source and the receivers are always located in the same half-space and at the same depth. The source excitation function is a narrow causal spike. Several thicknesses of the layer are examined including the case in which the embedded layer vanishes. The phenomena of ‘constricted’ head waves and wide-angle reflections in the layer are examined in detail using a ‘numerical experimentation’ approach. First, a closed-form solution is numerically evaluated. Then this solution is developed in series and each term is evaluated separately using the same numerical techniques. When the contribution of an individual high-order term becomes unimportant, all higher order terms are discarded, and the response is constructed by superposition of the previously computed low-order terms only. Propagation by wide-angle reflections from inside the layer is of interest. When the thickness of the layer is reduced to a fraction of the wavelength, these events consist typically of a low amplitude, high frequency, geometrical acoustics arrival, followed by higher amplitude, low frequency, non-geometrical coda. When all important low-order terms are added, the non-geometrical events tend to interfere destructively, leaving a waveform nearly identical to that obtained by integration of the closed-form solution. When the thickness of the embedded layer is measured in fractions of the dominant wavelength, none of the individual terms of the series development can be duplicated by asymptotic ray tracing. However, because the codas of the various terms interfere destructively, the total response may be well-represented by the addition of a few low-order rays, using asymptotic approximation. This discovery extends the usefulness of Huygens-Kirchhoff ray tracing to modeling of wave propagation in thin layers.     

Microseismic Event Detection Kalman Filter: Derivation of the Noise Covariance Matrix and Automated First Break Determination for Accurate Source Location Estimation

Since 1972, Weir-Jones Engineering Consultants (WJEC) has been involved in the development and installation of microseismic monitoring systems for the mining, heavy construction and oil/gas industries. To be of practical value in an industrial environment, microseismic monitoring systems must produce information which is both reliable and timely. The most critical parameters obtained from a microseismic monitoring system are the real-time location and magnitude of the seismic events. Location and magnitude are derived using source location algorithms that typically utilize forward modeling and iterative optimal estimation techniques to determine the location of the global minimum of a predefined cost function in a three-dimensional solution space. Generally, this cost function is defined as the RMS difference between measured seismic time series information and synthetic measurements generated by assuming a velocity structure for the area under investigation (forward modeling). The seismic data typically used in the source location algorithm includes P- and S-wave arrival times, and raypath angles of incidence obtained from P-wave hodogram analysis and P-wave first break identification. In order to obtain accurate and timely source location estimates it is of paramount importance that the extraction of accurate P-wave and S-wave information from the recorded time series be automated—in this way consistent data can be made available with minimal delay. WJEC has invested considerable resources in the development of real-time digital filters to optimize extraction, and this paper outlines some of the enhancements made to existing Kalman Filter designs to facilitate the automation of P-wave first break identification.     

基于射线追踪技术计算地震定位中震源轨迹的改进方法

使用震源轨迹确定震源位置不仅稳健而且直观,但当介质复杂时震源轨迹难以给出解析解.基于最小走时树射线追踪技术计算震源轨迹的方法(以轨迹所在的残差场中残差最小的点(初始点)至残差较小的点(震源轨迹代表点)的射线路径表示震源轨迹)适用于复杂速度模型,但尚不能正确计算由多段组成的震源轨迹,同时兼顾计算轨迹的完整性和精细性较为困难,计算参数设置烦琐不适于大批量数据的自动处理.针对该方法存在的问题,本文对其进行了改进:(1)采用一种"削皮"算法选取震源轨迹所经过的模型单元的节点作为轨迹代表点;(2)将残差较小的区域作为震源轨迹计算区域(该区域依轨迹分布自适应地划分为若干个连通区域),从未计算的轨迹代表点中选取残差最小者作为射线路径初始点,利用最小走时树算法依次计算所有连通区域内的震源轨迹;(3)通过去掉较短的不再分叉的射线路径使震源轨迹更为精细.虚拟和真实事件的算例表明,改进方法有效克服了原方法的不足,可便捷地计算复杂速度模型中事件的震源轨迹,计算的轨迹精细且较完整.     

复杂介质地震定位中震源轨迹的计算

在地震定位中常常需要求解震源轨迹,但由于复杂介质中的震源轨迹较为复杂,难以给出其解析解,因此震源轨迹的计算通常仅限于简单介质模型.本文基于最小走时树射线追踪技术,提出了一种计算复杂介质中震源轨迹的方法.为回避发震时间问题,以观测到时差作为震源轨迹的约束条件.首先从模型节点中选出少量理论到时差与观测到时差之绝对差,即双重时差较小的点作为震源轨迹的代表点,然后以其中双重时差最小的点为初始点,在双重时差场中利用最小走时树射线追踪方法计算出初始点到其他震源轨迹代表点的射线路径作为震源轨迹.当选的震源轨迹代表点较多时,得到的震源轨迹较为粗略,此时可去掉射线经过次数较少的代表点的射线路径使震源轨迹更为精细.为减少计算量,对最小走时树射线追踪方法的终止条件做了修正.以一个复杂介质模型中的地震为例,计算了包括速度扰动、到时扰动等不同情况下的震源轨迹,结果表明所提出的震源轨迹计算方法切实可行.     

SEISMIC REFLECTION AMPLITUDES1

Seismic amplitude variations with offset contain information about the elastic parameters. Prestack amplitude analysis seeks to extract this information by using the variations of the reflection coefficients as functions of angle of incidence. Normally, an approximate formula is used for the reflection coefficients, and variations with offset of the geometrical spreading and the anelastic attenuation are often ignored. Using angle of incidence as the dependent variable is also computationally inefficient since the data are recorded as a function of offset. Improved approximations have been derived for the elastic reflection and transmission coefficients, the geometrical spreading and the complex travel-time (including anelastic attenuation). For a 1 D medium, these approximations are combined to produce seismic reflection amplitudes (P-wave, S-wave or converted wave) as a Taylor series in the offset coordinate. The coefficients of the Taylor series are computed directly from the parameters of the medium, without using the ray parameter. For primary reflected P-waves, dynamic ray tracing has been used to compute the offset variations of the transmission coefficients, the reflection coefficient, the geometrical spreading and the anelastic attenuation. The offset variation of the transmission factor is small, while the variations in the geometrical spreading, absorption and reflection coefficient are all significant. The new approximations have been used for seismic modelling without ray tracing. The amplitude was approximated by a fourth-order polynomial in offset, the traveltime by the normal square-root approximation and the absorption factor by a similar expression. This approximate modelling was compared to dynamic ray tracing, and the results are the same for zero offset and very close for offsets less than the reflector depth.     

起伏层状介质中曲线网格有限差分法与射线法波场模拟对比研究

针对处理起伏地表(或含地下不规则波阻抗界面)条件下发展起来的地震波场数值模拟算法的模拟结果与解析解(大多数情形下无法得到)无法进行对比,且其有效性和正确性难以验证的情况,本文提出了一种可以相互验证波场数值模拟结果与射线追踪数值模拟结果的正确性和有效性的佐证方法,验证了参考射线追踪法.其中,波场数值模拟中采用曲线网格DRP/opt MacCormack有限差分法,射线追踪模拟则采用分区多步三角网格最短路径算法.通过系统对比上述两种方法得到的波场快照、单炮地震记录,以及合成理论地震图的结果显示,本方法相互作证了两种方法所得结果的正确性和有效性.双层和三层起伏层状模型的对比分析结果表明,这种方法不但可以加深理解地震波在复杂介质中的传播规律,同时射线法的引入为清晰识别和标定地震波场数值模拟中各种不同震相提供了一种便捷的途径.      

一种改进的地震反射层析成像方法

针对复杂介质的地震反射走时层析成像存在数据拾取困难问题,本文提出了一种新的地震反射层析成像速度模型建立方法,该方法用速度和地震射线走时描述模型,用地震反射波走时、地震波在源点和接收点处的传播方向信息反演模型.为提高反演的稳定性和计算效率,引入了Hamilton函数描述射线,在相空间计算反演所需的射线路径和目标函数对模型参数的导数,对理论模型和实际地震资料进行了试算,试算表明该方法对复杂介质具有较强的适应能力.     

SH Wave Propagation in Viscoelastic Media

When comparing solutions for the propagation of SH waves in plane parallel layered elastic and viscoelastic (anelastic) media, one of the first things that becomes apparent is that in the elastic case the location of the saddle points required to obtain a high frequency approximation are located on the real p axis. This is true of the branch points also. In a viscoelastic medium this is not typical. The saddle point corresponding to an arrival lies in the first quadrant of the complex p-plane as do the branch points. Additionally, in the elastic case the saddle point and branch points lie on a straight line drawn through the origin (the positive real axis in the complex p-plane), while in the viscoelastic case this is generally not the case and the saddle point and branch points lie in such a manner as to indicate the degree of their complex values.In this paper simple SH reflected and transmitted particle displacement arrivals due to a point torque source at the surface in a viscoelastic medium composed of a layer over a half space will be considered. The path of steepest descent defining the saddle point in the first quadrant will be parameterized in terms of a real variable and the high frequency solutions and intermediate analytic results obtained will be used to formulate more specific constraints and observations regarding saddle point location relative to branch point locations in the complex p-plane.As saddle point determination for an arrival is, in general, the solution of a non-linear equation in two unknowns (the real and imaginary parts of the complex saddle point p ₀), which must be solved numerically, the use of analytical methods for investigating this problem type is somewhat limited.Numerical experimentation using well documented solution methods, such as Newton's method, was undertaken and some observations were made. Although fairly basic, they did provide for the design of algorithms for the computation of synthetic traces that displayed more efficient convergence and accuracy than those previously employed. This was the primary motivation for this work and the results from the SH problem may be used with minimal modifications to address the more complicated subject of coupled P-SV wave propagation in viscoelastic media.Another reason for revisiting a problem that has received some attention in the literature was to approach it in a fairly comprehensive manner so that a number of specific observations may be made regarding the location of the saddle point in the complex p-plane and to incorporate these into computer software. These have been found to result in more efficient algorithms for the SH wave propagation and a significant enhancement of the comparable software in the P-SV problem.     

Precise arrival time detection of polarized seismic waves using the spectral matrix

I present a statistical method for detecting the arrival times of polarized seismic waves on three-component seismic observations in the time and frequency domains. In this method, the polarization, which is a representation of the 3D particle motion of seismic waves, is evaluated on the basis of a spectral matrix in the time and frequency domains and the statistical parameters are defined by using the eigenvalues of the spectral matrix for detecting the arrival times of linearly and elliptically polarized waves, where the idea of a statistical test of hypothesis is introduced. An evaluation of a synthetic signal revealed that the method can detect the arrival times of linearly and elliptically polarized waves within 10 sampling points at signal-to-noise ratios of −7 dB. Application of the method to an earthquake suggested that it can be used to detect the arrival times of both linearly and elliptically polarized waves, which are difficult to identify manually.     

Optimization of spread configuration for seismic data acquisition through numerical modeling in tectonically complex areas: a case study from Badarpur anticline, Cachar, India

Cachar area, a part of the Assam–Arakan frontal fold belt in the eastern part of India is characterized by a series of narrow anticlines which are dissected by a number of faults including thrusts, and broad synclines. Out of several exposed structures, Badarpur anticline is most important because of its major share of hydrocarbon strikes in Cachar. However, the seismic image of this area so far has been extremely poor for deciding locations for exploratory drilling. The problems in obtaining a good seismic image in this area include proper spread configuration including far and near offsets to capture reflected signals from the complex subsurface, variation of charge-sizes and depths along a line, large variation in statics due to rapid changes in elevation and near surface properties. The presence of coherent noise due to scattering and proper migration are major processing problems. This paper deals with the problem of spread configuration. For areas of complex subsurface, spread configuration obtained through field experiment at one spot may be quite different from other spots, requiring a large number of costly experiments. In this work, therefore, we used numerical modeling to derive an optimum spread configuration. For this, we chose a line passing through four wells on Badarpur anticline, and prepared a depth model using available seismic, surface geological and well data. Continuous synthetic common shot records were generated through oblique incidence ray tracing and were processed to obtain stacks with various spread configurations. Comparison of these stacks of synthetic data shows that end-on shooting configuration is inadequate for acquiring a good seismic image of the complex subsurface. From the present study it is evident that a split–spread configuration with near and far offsets of 50 m and 2400 m, respectively, can bring out optimum seismic images in Badarpur and other anticlines in this area.     

Scaling relations for seismic events induced by mining

The values of seismic moment andS-wave corner frequency from 1575 seismic events induced in South African, Canadian, Polish, and German underground mines were collected to study their scaling relations. The values ofP-wave corner frequency from 649 events were also available. Seismic moments of these events range from 5*10³ to 2*10¹⁵ N·m (moment magnitude is from –3.6 to 4.1), theS-wave corner frequency ranges from 0.7 to 4438 Hz, and theP-wave corner frequency is between 5 and 4010 Hz. The slope of a regression line between the logarithm ofS- andP-wave corner frequencies is equal to one, and the corner frequencies ofP waves are higher than those ofS waves on the average by about 25 percent. In studies of large and moderate earthquakes it has been found that stress drop is approximately independent of the seismic moment, which means that seismic moment is inversely proportional to the third power of corner frequency. Such a behavior was confirmed for most of the data considered here. A breakdown in the similarity betwen large and small events seems to occur for the events with moment magnitude below –2.5. The average values of seismic moment referred to the same range of corner frequency, however, are vastly different in various mining areas.     

A hybrid fast algorithm for first arrivals tomography

A hybrid algorithm, combining Monte-Carlo optimization with simultaneous iterative reconstructive technique (SIRT) tomography, is used to invert first arrival traveltimes from seismic data for building a velocity model. Stochastic algorithms may localize a point around the global minimum of the misfit function but are not suitable for identifying the precise solution. On the other hand, a tomographic model reconstruction, based on a local linearization, will only be successful if an initial model already close to the best solution is available. To overcome these problems, in the method proposed here, a first model obtained using a classical Monte Carlo-based optimization is used as a good initial guess for starting the local search with the SIRT tomographic reconstruction. In the forward problem, the first-break times are calculated by solving the eikonal equation through a velocity model with a fast finite-difference method instead of the traditional slow ray-tracing technique. In addition, for the SIRT tomography the seismic energy from sources to receivers is propagated by applying a fast Fresnel volume approach which when combined with turning rays can handle models with both positive and negative velocity gradients. The performance of this two-step optimization scheme has been tested on synthetic and field data for building a geologically plausible velocity model.This is an efficient and fast search mechanism, which permits insertion of geophysical, geological and geodynamic a priori constraints into the grid model and ray path is completed avoided. Extension of the technique to 3D data and also to the solution of 'static correction' problems is easily feasible.